When could free range eggs be back in shops and why were they banned?
Egg-citing news!
Buying free range eggs will soon be an option again now that the risk level for bird flu during the UK’s worst ever outbreak has dropped to ‘medium’.
The latest lockdown to protect captive birds started in early November because of the continued rise in bird flu cases, which meant they had to be kept indoors.
Farmers must continue to follow ‘stringent biosecurity measures’ such as ensuring workers change clothing and footwear before entering enclosures and disinfect vehicles regularly.
Since February, eggs from free-range flocks have been labelled as ‘barn eggs’ instead, because hens had been kept indoors for more than the permitted 16 weeks, without any freedom to roam outside.
The bird flu outbreak also led to a shortage of turkeys at Christmas and has jumped to other species, killing two dolphins.
So when will free range eggs be back on shelves and are they safe to eat?
Here’s what you need to know.
When could free range eggs be back in shops?
It’s not yet clear how quickly these will reach the shops, but expect to see free range eggs on sale reasonably soon after April 18.
Restrictions on keeping birds indoors are set to be lifted from midnight on Tuesday, April 18.
But not all areas of the country will come out of lockdown, with birds in some areas – including large parts of Norfolk – remaining indoors.
However, once birds are allowed access to outdoor areas, their eggs can be labelled as free range.
While many people choose free range eggs out of concern for the birds’ welfare, animal rights activists point out that the free range label doesn’t always mean birds have been spared cruelty.
Why were they banned?
Bird Flu is primarily spread through wild birds, which is why the government acted to protect captive ones. It leaps from bird to bird through nasal secretions, saliva and droppings.
Symptoms in birds include sudden death, lack of co-ordination, shaking, haemorrhages, swollen head, breathing difficulties and a sudden stop or drop in egg production. However, some birds – especially ducks, geese and swans – can show no symptoms at all but still spread it.
In March, China recorded its first human death from bird flu, and although cases have so far been confined to having close contact with infected birds, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that we should be prepared for a human bird flu epidemic.
Dr Christine Middlemiss, the UK’s chief veterinary officer, said: ‘The unprecedented nature of this outbreak has proven it’s more important than ever for bird keepers to remain vigilant for signs of disease and maintain stringent standards of biosecurity.’
Are eggs safe to eat?
Yes, when handled properly, according to authorities.
The good news is you can’t catch bird flu by eating fully-cooked poultry or eggs.
The NHS has detailed advice about bird flu, which includes:
- Wash your hands often with warm water and soap, especially before and after handling food, in particular raw poultry
- Use different utensils for cooked and raw meat
- Make sure meat is cooked until steaming hot
Proper cooking and handling of eggs and poultry, keeping surfaces clean and washing your hands, protects you from bird flu as well as other common bacteria such as E. Coli and Salmonella.
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